Automobile signal device



Nov. 7, 1939s 11 REED 2,179,022

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE TORATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1939. D. E. REED 2,179,022

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E k U 73 DINVENTQE 1* ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES 2 479,022AUTOMOBILE SIGNAD nnvrcn Daniel E. Reed, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor toReed Safety Signal System, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application December 19, 1935, Serial No. 55,139

4 Claims.

My invention relates to signal devices for use on automobiles and itserves to signal to persons in vehicles behind or in front of the one onwhich the device is used, of the intention of the driver 5, to'make aright or left turn, whereby the drivers of approaching vehicles will bewarned of the intention to turn.

One object of 'my invention is to provide a light signal, the visibleportion of which is preferably made to represent an arrow with oneportion representing the shaft of the arrow and with lights at eitherend of the shaftportion with suitable cut-outs in the lamp casingtoindicate the points ofthe arrow, one directed to the right and onedirected to the left. When the signal is operated the shaft portion isoperated and one of the points to indicate the direction thedriverintends to turn.

The device so operates that the lights of the signal are flashed and inthe preferred embodi ment the light or lights-forming the shaft portionof the arrow is or are lighted and extinguished in alternate relationwith the light which flashes at the point of the arrow. This not onlyattracts the'attention of all drivers to the rear of the vehicle but thealternate action of the lights has the effect of making the arrow morestriking in effect than if steadily illuminated.

When the controlling lever is operated for a right or left turn the lampor lamps which form the shaft of the arrow are made operative and one ofthe lamps indicating the point of the arrow is made operative accordingto which way the controlling lever is operated.

- Preferably, the arrow signalling device is duplicated at both thefront of the automobile and at the rear, so that drivers of vehicles infront as well as the rear of the automobile on which the device is usedwill be acquainted with the intention of the driver to make a rightorleft turn. The present device is controlled by a lever located nearthe steering whe'el and the driver may indicate through the operation ofthis lever the intention to make a right or left turn as the case maybe, while waiting at a corner stop or when about to approach a comerwhere a turn is to be made. Y

The rapid flashing of the signal lights will attract immediate attentionso that the drivers of adjacent vehicles will bepositively warned of anapproaching turn by the, vehicle on which the device is used.

'Another object of my invention is to provide a suction operated motor,preferably operatedby the vacuum in the intake manifold of the engine,

which suction motor automatically causes the flashing of thelights ofthe signals and in such time intervals as to cause the flashing of thelights rather than a steady light. The suction which operates thesuction motor is controlled 5 by the same lever which determines whichlights will be in circuit to indicate a right or left turn, so that themotor is automatically thrown into operation whenever the lever is movedto indicate a right or left turn and the motor continues to it) operateand flash the lamps until the lever is moved back to neutral or offposition. The motor is turned on regardless of whether the control leveris moved for a right or left turn.

The suction motor per se forms the subjectlfi matter of Letters PatentNo. 2,047,382, issued to me July 14, 1936, so that the motor per se isnot covered in this application.

One object of my'invention is to use a suction motor for flashing thelights and to employ a 20 common operating means, such as a lever, forthrowing the motor into and out of operatiomas well as for connectingthe lamps to designate a left or right turn. The present device issimple, compact and inexpensive, and it is durable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple dependable anddurable tell tale device for indicating to the driver of the automobileon which my signal apparatus is used, whenever one or more of the signallights burns out or otherwise becomes inoperative. By this means thedriver will not only be informed whether the signal is operating butalso whether it is operating at full efficiency, i. e., that all thelamps of the signal system are operating. The present tell tale 35device is adapted to operate successfully in connection with flashinglamps whereas heretofore such protective devices have only been operatedin connection with steady burning lamps. The tell tale device shownherein is so made that the 40 only current passing through the tell taleor indicating lamp is that required for its own operation, this currentpassing only through a relay circuit. This circuit is independent of thecircuit which passes through the relay of the tell 45 tale device.

Instead of having to wind the magnet of the tell tale device with greataccuracy to match the resistance of the several lamps of the signalsystem I provide mechanical means for adjusting 50 the tension on thearmature of the relay magnet, so that this adjustment permits of anaccurate balancing of the magnet to accord with the lamps in operationand the device 'maybe tested to insure actual operation. a 4 55 Otherfeatures and advantages will be set forth in the following detaileddescription of my invention.

tion,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the suction motor attached to the steeringpost of an automobile, with parts of the casing of the motor broken awayto show the interior parts,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1,

' Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of the lower end of the motor with thecap oncover removed,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the switch for controlling right andleft lights,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 9,

Figure 7 is an inverted plan view of the valve which controls theoperation of the motor,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 2,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line :5 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 8,

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line H'|I of Figure 8, and

m Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of the eleca other at the rear of theautomobile facing backwardly, although if desired only the rear signalmay be used. Within each lamp housing there is or are one or more lamps3 showing through the cover of the lamp housing, to indicate the p shaftof an arrow. At each end of the lamp so of housing there is an opening 4shaped to represent the point of an arrow, the two openings beingarranged beyond opposite ends of the shaft of the arrow and pointing inopposite directions in relation to the shaft. There is a lamp 5 oppositeeach of these arrow 'point openings to shine through the same. Both lamphousings are preferably made alike so that this description applies toboth.

At 6 I have designated diagrammatically the suction motor which will behereinafter described in detail; At II have shown a source of currentwhich may be the storage battery usually present on the automobile; oneside of the battery is grounded as shown at 8. Connected to the otherside of the battery there is a wire 9 which leads to two contact arms10, l l, preferably spring arms attached to one end of the motor, sothat current from one side of the battery is applied to both thesecontact arms. There is another contact arm [2 arranged opposite thecontact arm I0 and the wire l3 leading from this contact arm connectswith the contact point ll on the switch l5. The spring arm I8 .5 isopposite the arm II and the wire I! connected with the spring arm I6 isconnected with the lamps 3 whichshine through the shaft of the.

arrow. The other side of each of these lamps is connected by]: wire H!to ground, thus comrent and the ma man light the shafts ofthe inim bothhousings. where both front "is used,

thelampof pletingthe circuit Excluding the source of cur-.

The spindle of the motor carries a conducting strap 2| for connectingthe several spring contact arms and it has contact members adapted, whenthe spindle is in its upper position, to contact with the contactmembers on the contact arms ll, l6 to complete the circuit whichincludes the lamps which shine through the shaft of the arrow. When thespindle of the motor is in its lower position the strap 2| will con--nect with the spring arms l0, [2. It will be disconnected from thespring arms II, IS in the lower position and therefore the circuit thusdescribed will be broken at this point and the shaft lamps will betemporarily extinguished.

When the motoris in operation the spindle reciprocates and thus bymaking a break in the circuit just described causes the lamps 3 toflash.

When the controlling switch is thrown right or left it will connecteither with the contact 22 or with the contact 23, according to whichdirection the control lever is operated; and also with the contact l4.-

If the switch is moved so that it makes contact with the contact members[4, 23 then the current will pass from the wire l3 to the wire 24 andthis wire is connected with the wire 25 which leads to the lamps in thelamp housings which are arranged to reflect through the arrow pointwhich points to the left.

If on the other hand the switch is moved, so that it makes contact withthe point l4 and the point 22, then the current will pass from the wirel3 through the switch arm to the wire the battery. I

It will be apparent from what has just been described that the lamp orlamps reflecting through the shaft of the arrow is not connected withthe switch I5 and these lights are simply flashed whenever the suctionmotor is operated because the shaft of the arrow is flashed .regardlessof whether a right or left turn is to be made. The switch l5 however,will connect the Wire l3 with either the wire 24 of the wire 26 so thatonly the lamp behind one point of the arrow is lighted at a timealthough these lights are flashed in accordance with the movement of thesuction motor. The lamps 3 which light the shaft of the arrow areflashed alternately in relation to those that light the arrow points.

It will be noticed that when the strap 2| is in its lower position thetwo wires 9, l3 are connected through this strap, thus feeding currentto the switch and to the right or left arrow point lamps. When thespindle 20 moves upwardly it breaks the circuit between the wires 9 andI3, thus extinguishing momentarily the lamps which reflect throughthepoints of the arrow. when the spindle 20 goes upwardly the strap 2|contacts with the spring arms I I, I6 and thus establishes a connectionbetween-the wire 9 and the wire I1. This latter wire which is connectedwith the wire l8 supplies current to the lamp or lamps reflectingthrough the shaft of the arrow.

the wires 9 and I3 thus extinguishing the lamps which reflect throughthe shaft of the arrow and the axial line of the pivot pin 49 and itsopposite end is connected with the lever 48.

the strap again connects the spring arms l8, l2

which sends current to the switch l5 and therefore to the lamps at thepoints of the arrows.

From what has been said it will be apparent 5 that the lamps at theshafts of the arrows are flashed. in alternate relation to the lampsbehirid the points of the arrows and this not only attracts attention tothe signal device but it also gives the eflect of the arrow travellingor point setting of the hand switch. I I have sh'cwn'a small pilot lamp28 which may be placed on the dash 29 of the automobile to indicate tothe driver that the flashing signals are operating. A wire 30 connectedwith one side of this lamp is connected also with the wire l8 so thatthe current fed to this wire to operate the lamps in the shafts of thearrows will light the pilot lamp 28 if the circuit is properlyoperating; and if the pilot light fails to flash it will indicate thatthe signal is not properly operating. The wire 3| connected to theopposite side of the pilot lamp is grounded, thereby completing thecircuit back to the battery.

I will heredescribe the suction motor for automatically flashing thesignal lamp. The motor is shown as including a cylindrical shell 32preferably having an integral head 33 at one end and a removable head 34at the opposite end,

3 forming a chamber 35 in which the piston 36 V is adapted toreciprocate. This piston may consist of the head with a leather or otherwasher 31 engaging the surface of the cylinder and with a metal washer38 clamped against the soft wash- 35 er by means of a nut 39 threadedonto the end of the spindle 28.

I Between the piston and the head of the cylinder there is a helicalspring 48 which serves to move the piston downwardly in Figure 8. A part40 of the piston is formed with a port 4| at one end of which is formedthe valve seat 42 against which the valve 43 is adapted to seat to shutofi air communication between opposite sides of the pistonand whenunseated to permit air to pass 45 from one side to the other of thepiston.

v tures )fxtending through the bloclnto permit 55. spindle'of thepiston, this lever having bifur cated arms which straddle the spindle 46of the valve 43 and which are adapted to press on the bottom of thevalve to hold it seated on the valve seat 42 or to press downwardly onthe collar 50 on the spindle 46 for the purpose of unseating the valve.On the same pin 49 there is pivoted a double arm lever 5| to the outerend of which is pivotally connected a link 52 which extends downwardlyand one end of which passes through the enlarged opening 53 in the head34 of the cylinder.

This portion of the link is provided with the bent end 54 below the headadapted to engage 70 the under side of the head when the link movesupwardly; and with a turned over lip 55 adapted to engage the topsurfaceof the head 34 when -.-56 connected with the pin 51aadjacent the outer75 end of the lever 5| and this spring passes across ing either to theright or left, according to the I have shown a pair of such springsarranged on opposite sides of the pivot of the lever. When the pistonmoves upwardly in Figure 8 at which time the valve 43 is seated againstthe valve seat 42, the lever 5| and the link 52 move with the spindle 20until the bent end 54 of the link strikes the bottomrsuriace of the head34 and continued upward movement of the piston causes the lever 5| to berocked upon the pin 49 but at first the lever 48 does not move. However,when the spring 56 through the movement of the lever 5| crosses the axisof the pivot 49 the spring suddenly swings the lever 5| f. downwardlyand also the lever'48- and the latter quickly unseats the valve 43 andallows air to pass from one side to the other of the piston for apurpose which will be set forth. I

This causes the suction above the piston to be broken and the pistonthen moves downwardly under the action of the-spring 40 and near thebottom stroke of the piston the member 55 of the link 52 strikes the topof the head 34 and further downward movement of the piston causes thelever 5| to be rocked clockwise on the pivot 49 and when the spring 56crosses back over the center, i. e., across the line of the pin'49," thelever 48 is moved quickly up to press the valve 43 against the seat 42and thus cut off air communication between opposite sides of the piston.The suction will then cause the piston to move upwardly again.

The head of the cylinder is shown as provided with a port 51 opening atthe face of the valve seat 58 and with its opposite end in communicationwith the interior of the cylinder above the piston. There is anotherport 59 which is angular and one end opens at the face of the valve seat58 while the other end opens at the side of the cylinder where it isconnected with one end of the hose ,60.

This hose extends to and is connected with the intake manifold of theautomobile, whereby the partial vacum therein causes asuction in theport 59.

The head 33 of the cylinder is shown as provided with an upwardlyextending cylindrical portion 6| which forms a housing for anoscillating valve 62 which seats against the valve seat 58. The bottomface of this valve is provided with an arcuate port 63 as shown inFigure '7 which is adapted to establish communication between the ports51, 59 in the cylinder head and the solid portion 64 intermediate theends of this, arcuate port is adapted to shut oilc communication betweenthe ports 51, 59-. It will be apparent that when the solid portion 64 iscovering the port 59 that oscillation of the valve body- 62 either tothe right or left will establish communication between the ports 51, 59.

The valve body 62. has a stem 65 around which is disposed a coiledspring 66 which presses downwardly upon the valve body to keep it seatedagainst the seat 58. The upper end of this spring presses against theunder side of the nut 66' which is threaded into the upper end of thecylindrical portion 6|. At 61 the valve spindle is reduced in diameterand has its bearings in a boss in the nut 66'. At 68 the valve spindleis made polygonal or square to receive thereover' the switch arm 68which has a square aperture the link moves downwardly. There is a.spring 4 'lll'corresponding with the square portion of the spindlewhereby the switch arm will turn with the spindle. There is a removablecap or cover A II for the upper end of the cylinder and this has anaperture through which the upper, reduced end I2 of the spindle passes.

Above the cover the spindle is shown as'aga'ln reduced in diameter toreceive thereover the hub of the operating lever I3 and this hub is heldon the end of the spindle by means of the nut Ii threaded on the upperend of the spindle.

The lever I3 has arms extending in opposite directions and the outer endof these arms are adapted to be grasped by the hand of the driver toturn the switch and the valve.

Through the tube 60 connected with the intake manifold of the automobilesuction is created in the port 59 at the head of the suction motor. Whenthe hand lever I3 is turned right or left the arcuate port 63 is broughtinto register with the port 59 and at the same time this arouate portregisters with the port 51 thereby establishing communication betweenthe two ports, and this causes the suction to create a partial vacuum inthe cylinder above the piston. When this occurs the piston is drawnupwardly against the resistance of the spring 40 until the valve 53 isunseatedin the manner described, whereupon air is permittedto pass frombelow the piston to above the piston, thus destroying the effect of thevacuum, whereupon the piston is moved downwardly by the spring 40 andthe operations are'repeated as long as the ports 51, 59 are incommunication.

The switch arm 69 which is moved from the neutral position to a right orleft position by the operation of the controlling lever I3 is providedwith spring plungers I5 which press downwardly on the upper face of anannular block I6 of insulating. material which is mounted on extensionsII of the head 33 of the cylinder by means of screws I8. This insulatingring has impressions I9 in which the spring plungers I5 press toresistibly hold the switch arm from turning accidentally.

The plungers I5 are connected by the strap 82- conductively.

The contact members I5 are shown as having rounded ends which engage insimilar recesses 83 in the upper ends of the contact members I4, 22, 23which are seated in suitable apertures in the insulating ring I6. Thereare three such contact members I4, 22, 23 and they are connectedrespectively with the wires I3, 26, 24 in the order shown in Figure 12.When the switch arm 69 is positioned where the plungers I5 engage in therecesses IS the contacts of the switch arm are out of contact with allof the contact members I4, 22, 23 so that there is no circuit throughthe switch I5 If the switch arm is turnedclockwise in Figure 2 againstthe resistance of the plunger pins I5 then one of the contact members I5will snap into the recess of the contact member I4 and the other willsnap into the recess of the contact member 22 and this will establishelectrical connection between the wires I3, 24 in Figure 12, thuscausing the lamps at the right arrow points to be lighted; If, on thecontrary, the switch is turned counterclockwise in Figure 2, then thecontact members I5 on the switch will snap into the recesses of thecontact members I4 and 23, and this will establish connection throughthe strap 82 between the wires l3 and 23 and this will close the circuitwhich includes the lamps behind the left hand arrow points and thussignal an intention of making a left turn.

Preferably, the several wires connected wit Preferably, the motor isattached to the steering 5 post 86 of the automobile by a strap 81encircling the post and bolted to the side extension I! of the motorcylinder by bolts 86.

On the lower end of the spindle 20 of the motor piston I have secured abar 89 of insulating man terial which is secured against the shoulder ofthe spindle by the nut 98. On the free end of' the insulating bar 89there is a conductive strap 2i which carries a pair of contact memberswhich face and are adapted to contact with contact members on the springarms Ill, 12 previously referred to. The strap 2| also has contactmembers facing in the opposite direction, which are adapted to makecontact with the contactmembers on the spring arms It, It. The 2 actionof the strap 2| in relation to the circuits has been previouslydescribed above. I have shown a cap fitted over the lower end of themotor to enclose and protect the several spring arms. 2

Dpemtion As long as the automobile is to be driven straight ahead, theoperating lever I3 is left in neutral position so that there is nocircuit through the switch l5 and the ports 51, so of a the suctionmotor are shut ofi by the solid portion 64 of the oscillating valve, sothat the motor remains idle and with the piston in its lower position towhich it is always driven when the suction is inactive on the motorbecause of the a spring 40. If the driver of the automobile is about tomake a right turn the lever I3'will be turned clockwise until thecontact members 15 spring into the sockets of the contact members Thisaction swings the switch arm 69 clockwise m Figure 2' and connects thecontact members I4 and 23 through the strap 82, thereby establishmg acircuit through the lamp at the point of the arrow which points to theright. This operation also oscillates the valve 62 so that the port 63establishes communication between the ports 51, 59 and immediately thesuction action acts on the motor piston to move it upwardly against theopposition of the spring 40.

During the upward movement of the piston the contacts on the strap 21move away from the contacts on the arms I0, I 2, thus breaking the ton.The piston then moves downwardly under the action of the spring 40. I

This downward movement of the piston b the connection between the strapSI and the spring arms II, I6, thus extinguishing the lamps Y behind theshaft of the arrows and the strap II then establishes connection betweenthe spring arms I0, l2 and this closes the circuit which includes thelamps behind the right-anoint of the arrow.

As the motor continues to operate, the signal lights are flashed inalternate relation as just 1 rows will be broken close the port 5! andthus cut oil the suction of most-position, in which position all the.lights of the motor and the latter will stop in its lowerthe signal willbe extinguished.

11' it is intended to make aleit turn, the controlling'lever ll will bemoved counterclockwise, in-which case the above operations will berepeated, with the, exception that the switch shown in Figure 5 willestablish connection between the contacts I and 22 and this will connectthe lamps at the left points of the arrows in circuit with the battery,subject to the flashing action of the suction motor.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a simple andeil'ective device which will not only indicate the intention to make aright or left turn but which will flash the lamps to attract theattention of operators of other vehicles. By flashing the lights throughthe shaft of the arrows alternately in relation to those at the pointsof the arrows, the arrows have the eflect of moving in the direction atwhich they are pointed, which also immediately indicates to the driversof other vehicles which way the operator oi the vehicle on which theinvention is employed is about to turn. The parts of the device aresmall and compact. The device may be made at a low cost so that it maybe applied as standard equipment on automobiles as they aremanufactured, or it may be attached to automo biles now in use, in avery simple manner.

Having described my inventiomwhat I claim i housing adapted to bemounted on an automobile,

and having means for indicating the shaft of an arrow and means forindicating arrow points oppositely disposed at opposite ends or saidshaltportion of the arrow, lamps for said shaft portion of the arrow andfor each point portion thereof 5 for either one of the point portions ofthe arrow,

and means for aiternately closing the circuit of said lamps andalternately illuminate the shaft portion and said point portionof thearrow.

2. A signal device for automobiles, including a lamp housing adapted tobe mounted onan automobile and having therepresentation of a shaft otanarrow, and having a representation oipointsoianarrowdisposedinoppositepositions at opposite ends of the shaft portion 01' said,arrow,alampiorilluminatingthelhaitportion' 1. A signal device forautomobiles, including a of said arrow, a lamp for illuminating each ofthe point portions of said arrow, and each of said lamps connected in anopen electric. circuit, a manually adjustable switch to close thecircuit or the lamp for either point portion of the arrow and the lampfor the shaft portion of the arrow, circuit closing means toindependently close the circuit of the lamp for the shaft portion andthe circuit of the lamp for the point portion of the arrow closed by theswitch, and means to actuate said circuit closing means to alternatelyclose and open the circuit of the lamps and alternately illuminate theshaft portion and said point portion of the arrow.

3. A signal device iorautomobiles including a lamp housing adapted to bemounted on an automobile .and having the representation of a shaft ora'narrow and having the representation of points of an arrow disposed inopposite positions at opposite ends of the shaft portion of the arrow, asource of power, lamps each connected in an independent open circuitwith the source of power to illuminatethe shaft and pointportions or thearrow, an adjustable switch to close the circuit oi the lamp for theshaft portion'oi the arrow and the circuit or the lamp for either one ofthe pointportions of. the arrow, circuit making and breahng means toclose and open the circuits of the. lamp to illuminate the shaft portionof the arrow and of the lamp for the point portion oi? the arrow closedby the switch, and means for actuating said circuit making and breakingmeans to alternately open and close the circuits of the lamps connectedin circuit with the source of power through the switch to alternatelyflash and illuminate the shalt portion and a point portion of the arrow.

4. A signal device for automobiles, including a housing adapted to bemounted on an automobile, and having means for indicating the shaft ofan arrow and means for indicating arrow points oppositely disposed atopposite ends of saidshaft portion of the arrow, lamps 101' said shaftportion of the arrow and for said point portions thereof connected inindependent electric circuits, a manually operated switch for connectingeither one oi the; lamps at said point portions oi the arrow and thelamp of the shaft portion of the arrow in independent electric cir-.cuits with a source of electric energy, a motor, and circuit making andbreaking means connect ed in circuit with the lampsoperated by the motoriorintermittently closing the circuits of the lamp for the shaft portionor the arrow and the lamp for the point portion of the arrow con-Inected in the circuit by the switch and closing and opening the circuitof one lamp alternately

